Related Articles

Mealybugs are sap-sucking insects commonly found on indoor plants such as gardenias. These gray, segmented pests often feed in clusters, shedding their white waxy or cottony coating all over the sections of the plant they've infested. In high numbers, mealybugs can cause premature leaf drop and twig dieback, but even lower numbers will cause an affected gardenia to grow more slowly. Most mealybugs also secrete honeydew, a sticky substance that attracts both ants and sooty molds. Eliminating this pest from an indoor gardenia can be difficult if the infestation is large, but in smaller concentrations, it's very possible to save a gardenia from mealybugs.

1

Remove any infested gardenias to an area where there are no other houseplants to prevent the further spread of mealybugs.

2

Check your gardenia carefully for mealybug populations. If numbers are low and concentrated in a small area, it may be easier to cut them out of the plant than to treat them with chemicals. Burn or double-bag any plant debris that contains mealybugs.

3

Treat very light infestations by blasting plants with a high pressure water stream from a kitchen sprayer or garden hose. Touch any mealybugs that you cannot dislodge this way with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to kill them. Take care not to get rubbing alcohol on your gardenia.

4

Smother larger mealybug infestations with a thorough application of insecticidal soap or horticultural oil. Before application, move your gardenia to a location out of direct sunlight, where the room temperature will not exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit, to eliminate the potential for an adverse reaction. Two days after treatment drench the soil of your gardenia with a solution containing the beneficial fungus Beauveria bassiana to kill any root-feeding mealybugs that may be present. Repeat this combination every 10 to 14 days until the mealybugs are gone and your plant's health improves noticeably.

5

Drench the soil of your gardenia with imidacloprid and water thoroughly if mealybug populations are high and do not respond to less toxic remedies. Allow three to seven days for the insecticide to take effect. Apply as directed; this neonicotinoid pesticide cannot work properly if mixed or applied incorrectly. Do not apply more frequently than once every 16 weeks.

Things You Will Need

Bypass pruners

Rubbing alcohol

Cotton swab

Insecticidal soap (optional)

Horticultural oil (optional)

Beauveria bassiana

Imidacloprid

Tip

If your plant is suffering from an infestation of ants, eliminate the ants before treating the mealybugs. Often ants protect and farm mealybugs for their honeydew secretions.

Warning

Although several pesticides are labeled for mealybug control, they can be harmful to pets and family members. Always take great care when applying these chemicals to indoor plants.

About the Author

Kristi Waterworth started her writing career in 1995 as a journalist for a local newspaper. From there, her meandering career path led to a 9 1/2 year stint in the real estate industry. Since 2010, she's written on a wide range of personal finance topics. Waterworth received a Bachelor of Arts in American history from Columbia College.

Photo Credits

Medioimages/Photodisc/Photodisc/Getty Images

bibliography-iconicon for annotation tool Cite this Article

Choose Citation Style

Waterworth, Kristi. "How to Get Rid of Mealy Bugs on a Gardenia Houseplant." Home Guides | SF Gate, http://homeguides.sfgate.com/rid-mealy-bugs-gardenia-houseplant-44955.html. Accessed 24 May 2019.

Waterworth, Kristi. (n.d.). How to Get Rid of Mealy Bugs on a Gardenia Houseplant. Home Guides | SF Gate. Retrieved from http://homeguides.sfgate.com/rid-mealy-bugs-gardenia-houseplant-44955.html

Waterworth, Kristi. "How to Get Rid of Mealy Bugs on a Gardenia Houseplant" accessed May 24, 2019. http://homeguides.sfgate.com/rid-mealy-bugs-gardenia-houseplant-44955.html

Note: Depending on which text editor you're pasting into, you might have to add the italics to the site name.